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Jem Flockhart #5
Nightshade
London, 1851. Restless and bored after a long hot summer, apothecary and poison expert Jem Flockhart decides to redesign her physic garden. But plans are thrown into confusion when a man's skeleton is unearthed from beneath the deadly nightshade, a smaller, child-like skeleton curled at its feet. The body bears evidence of knife wounds to its ribs and arms, and is accompanied by a collection of macabre a brass bowl, a curious coin-like token, a set of tiny ivory sculls.The police claim the victim is too long-buried for answers to be found, but for Jem, a corpse in her own garden is something that cannot be ignored. The plans to the garden, laid out some forty years earlier, reveal a list of five names.When Jem and Will start asking questions, the murders begin. Each victim has a past connection with the physic garden; each corpse is found with its jaw broken wide and its mouth stuffed with deadly nightshade. As they move closer to uncovering the truth Jem Flockhart and Will Quartermain encounter a dark world of addiction, madness, power and death that strikes at the very heart of Jem's own history. This time, the poison is personal.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2021
25 people are currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
E.S. Thomson
7 books276 followersElaine Thomson has a PhD in the history of medicine and works as a university lecturer in Edinburgh. She was shortlisted for the Saltire First Book Award and the Scottish Arts Council First Book Award. Elaine lives in Edinburgh with her two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 17, 2021
“Nightshade” is the fifth book in author E.S. Thomson’s ‘Jem Flockhart’ series set in Victorian London.
- London, 1851. Apothecary and poison expert Jem Flockhart decides to redesign her physic garden but plans are thrown into confusion when a man's skeleton is unearthed from beneath the deadly nightshade, a smaller, child-like skeleton curled at its feet. The body bears evidence of knife wounds to its ribs and arms, and is accompanied by a collection of macabre objects: a brass bowl, a curious coin-like token, a set of tiny ivory sculls. The police claim the victim is too long-buried but a corpse in Jem’s own garden is something that cannot be ignored. The plans to the garden, laid out some forty years earlier, reveal a list of five names. When Jem and Will start asking questions, the murders begin. Each victim has a past connection with the physic garden and each corpse is found with its jaw broken wide, its mouth stuffed with deadly nightshade. -
Having the whole set of books in this series but not yet got around to reading, I was excited to be able to read “Nightshade” early and was over the moon at how exciting it was from the very start. I did originally think that this was maybe a cosy mystery but it doesn’t take long to realise this is far from it. With an intense gothic feel, dark, gory and gruesome (everything I like in a book) and a plot that is easy to understand and follow as a standalone novel, I devoured the story with fervour and instantly fell in love with Jem and her associate Will Quartermain. The reader is also taken back in time to 1818 when Jem’s mother travelled to India on a botanical expedition. Her intimate journal is recounted between chapters and as it gradually progresses we see how it fits with the main story of the uncovered bones.
Excellently written and full of obviously well researched, natural botanical poisons and along with being set in the dreary streets of Victorian London and exotic India, “Nightshade” has left a lasting impression on me and I can’t wait to read the series from the beginning.
An easy 5 stars!
- London, 1851. Apothecary and poison expert Jem Flockhart decides to redesign her physic garden but plans are thrown into confusion when a man's skeleton is unearthed from beneath the deadly nightshade, a smaller, child-like skeleton curled at its feet. The body bears evidence of knife wounds to its ribs and arms, and is accompanied by a collection of macabre objects: a brass bowl, a curious coin-like token, a set of tiny ivory sculls. The police claim the victim is too long-buried but a corpse in Jem’s own garden is something that cannot be ignored. The plans to the garden, laid out some forty years earlier, reveal a list of five names. When Jem and Will start asking questions, the murders begin. Each victim has a past connection with the physic garden and each corpse is found with its jaw broken wide, its mouth stuffed with deadly nightshade. -
Having the whole set of books in this series but not yet got around to reading, I was excited to be able to read “Nightshade” early and was over the moon at how exciting it was from the very start. I did originally think that this was maybe a cosy mystery but it doesn’t take long to realise this is far from it. With an intense gothic feel, dark, gory and gruesome (everything I like in a book) and a plot that is easy to understand and follow as a standalone novel, I devoured the story with fervour and instantly fell in love with Jem and her associate Will Quartermain. The reader is also taken back in time to 1818 when Jem’s mother travelled to India on a botanical expedition. Her intimate journal is recounted between chapters and as it gradually progresses we see how it fits with the main story of the uncovered bones.
Excellently written and full of obviously well researched, natural botanical poisons and along with being set in the dreary streets of Victorian London and exotic India, “Nightshade” has left a lasting impression on me and I can’t wait to read the series from the beginning.
An easy 5 stars!
February 8, 2022
Great idea for a novel. The author is a PhD in the history of medicine and puts her expertise to good use. Nightshade takes place in mid nineteenth century London and has a medical/apothecary named Jem as its central character. London is dark, threatening and very gothic.
There are many women characters, all struggling with their roles and confinements in life. Women have few choices no matter what their station in life. Much is made of corsets and restrictions. Most of the women here find ways to break from the norms although they may end up as bad people.
Jem loves the physic garden that is her inheritance but has to live her outward life as a man in order to have an apothecary business. A long dead body turns up in her garden and truly, all hell breaks loose. What’s going on?
I love the herbal, medicinal, poison and historical aspects of Nightshade. It was a time before big pharma and not every experiment or cure was remotely safe. Thomson also introduces fun details about Victorian life. It’s notable how many times green dresses, green carpet and green wallpaper are mentioned. That fashionable, alluring color was produced by arsenic and who knows how man people came to early, painful ends because of toxic chemicals in daily life. In the novel, emerald green alerts you to evil people. They certainly can be fascinating as well as dangerous. Think back on how man times Disney uses the color. Green swirls around Malificent and her castle and the evil Queen in Snow White dips the beautiful red apple in a bath of green potion for Snow White. POISONOUS! EVIL! Look out.
I take away a point for too much over the top writhing vines, writhing characters and women with ghastly red teeth and tongues. But that’s just me. Wilkie Collins wouldn’t have done it that way, but this is 2022.
There are many women characters, all struggling with their roles and confinements in life. Women have few choices no matter what their station in life. Much is made of corsets and restrictions. Most of the women here find ways to break from the norms although they may end up as bad people.
Jem loves the physic garden that is her inheritance but has to live her outward life as a man in order to have an apothecary business. A long dead body turns up in her garden and truly, all hell breaks loose. What’s going on?
I love the herbal, medicinal, poison and historical aspects of Nightshade. It was a time before big pharma and not every experiment or cure was remotely safe. Thomson also introduces fun details about Victorian life. It’s notable how many times green dresses, green carpet and green wallpaper are mentioned. That fashionable, alluring color was produced by arsenic and who knows how man people came to early, painful ends because of toxic chemicals in daily life. In the novel, emerald green alerts you to evil people. They certainly can be fascinating as well as dangerous. Think back on how man times Disney uses the color. Green swirls around Malificent and her castle and the evil Queen in Snow White dips the beautiful red apple in a bath of green potion for Snow White. POISONOUS! EVIL! Look out.
I take away a point for too much over the top writhing vines, writhing characters and women with ghastly red teeth and tongues. But that’s just me. Wilkie Collins wouldn’t have done it that way, but this is 2022.
April 21, 2021
This is a great series and Nightshade may well be the best - it is utterly engrossing and filled with fascinating (and quite horrifying at times!) details about medical procedures, poisons and medicines in the mid 19th century. It is both gritty historical crime and exotic mystery, with its extracts from a journal which recount a botanical expedition to India. This is all very personal for Jem and it is riveting. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
September 1, 2021
The difference between good medicine and poison is the dose.
Nightshade is book 5 in the Jem Flockhart series set in Victorian London. When Jem and Will find a skeleton buried in the physic garden, it looks like foul play but the police don't want know as the body could have been there for years. So Jem decides to investigate, and it's not long before there are more deaths, and each corpse has berries from the deadly nightshade plant stuffed into their mouths... Just like the skeleton.
This is a story of drug addiction, power and death. And Jem's secret, is it about to be revealed?
Nightshade is book 5 in the Jem Flockhart series set in Victorian London. When Jem and Will find a skeleton buried in the physic garden, it looks like foul play but the police don't want know as the body could have been there for years. So Jem decides to investigate, and it's not long before there are more deaths, and each corpse has berries from the deadly nightshade plant stuffed into their mouths... Just like the skeleton.
This is a story of drug addiction, power and death. And Jem's secret, is it about to be revealed?
December 16, 2022
This was a book that caught my eye at my local public library. I thought it looked and sounded like my sort of book, and I liked it a lot.
I enjoy historical fiction, and as well as being a good story, I found all the additional information about plants very interesting.
I enjoy historical fiction, and as well as being a good story, I found all the additional information about plants very interesting.
September 19, 2022
3-3.5?
September 16, 2024
What a great book! 👏 It's very well written, with a good mystery and kept me hooked until the end. Although this isn't the first in the series, it can absolutely be read as a standalone and I'm glad I found it.
This book ticked a lot of boxes for me:
1. Murder mystery - The mystery itself wasn't hugely complex, but as it occurred 30 years before the start of the book, there's a lot of uncovering the truth behind the murder and those involved, as more and more mysterious deaths occur along the way. The ending was good. It's obvious who the 'baddie' is, but there are other elements that I did not guess, so there is still a good reveal!
2. Diary extracts - I love epistolary novels and extracts from Jem's Mother's diary appear throughout the book to explain past events. They were very enjoyable, without overwhelming the main plot.
3. The setting - I loved the Victorian-era setting and the way this was written reminded me of a classic adventure novel. The worldbuilding was fantastic.
I'm looking forward to reading more in this series, so it's a ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ from me!
This book ticked a lot of boxes for me:
1. Murder mystery - The mystery itself wasn't hugely complex, but as it occurred 30 years before the start of the book, there's a lot of uncovering the truth behind the murder and those involved, as more and more mysterious deaths occur along the way. The ending was good. It's obvious who the 'baddie' is, but there are other elements that I did not guess, so there is still a good reveal!
2. Diary extracts - I love epistolary novels and extracts from Jem's Mother's diary appear throughout the book to explain past events. They were very enjoyable, without overwhelming the main plot.
3. The setting - I loved the Victorian-era setting and the way this was written reminded me of a classic adventure novel. The worldbuilding was fantastic.
I'm looking forward to reading more in this series, so it's a ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ from me!
April 21, 2021
Another great book from E S Thomson. The Fifth in the Jem Flockhart series set in Victorian London.
Jem is an apthocary but was born female so has to live her life as a man so that she can earn her own living as an apothecary. Both her parents are dead and in this novel her mother is implicated in a murder. There are a few deaths along the way before Jem figures out what's happening and every other chapter is given over to Jem's mother's diary.
A page turner of a gothic Victorian murder mystery novel with plenty of atmosphere and a lot of information about poisons.
Recommended
Jem is an apthocary but was born female so has to live her life as a man so that she can earn her own living as an apothecary. Both her parents are dead and in this novel her mother is implicated in a murder. There are a few deaths along the way before Jem figures out what's happening and every other chapter is given over to Jem's mother's diary.
A page turner of a gothic Victorian murder mystery novel with plenty of atmosphere and a lot of information about poisons.
Recommended
September 21, 2022
I’ll admit my reading habits have dived recently since I’ve got a new job and seem to work almost constantly at the moment but I’ve still beaten my reading challenge months in advance.
I had never heard of this series until my first trip to the library in the local area I had moved into. I was browsing the shelves and this book caught my eye which is strange as I never normally stray from the fantasy section. I know they have Surgeons’ Hall there too so I’ll no doubt be borrowing that at some point.
I’m glad that although there is an order to this series, I can read this as a standalone as I picked the wrong book entirely from the series order yet I was able to follow and enjoy the story all the same. I found this to be a good choice for the changing of seasons as the weather grew colder so did the atmosphere within this novel.
It did take me a while to get into as I don’t often read thriller books but I thoroughly enjoyed the botanical and historical aspects and kept my interest until the pace picked up.
I have always had a passion for plants and gardening myself and have once or twice tried to get an apprenticeship in horticulture albeit with little success but I’ll keep trying. With this knowledge I found the poisonous plant focus to be truly captivating, especially the definitions, administrations and effects of each type of nightshade scattered throughout the pages.
The format for this book is a chapter following Jem Flockhart, an experienced apothecary who solved mysteries throughout victorian London in disguise as a man, as she discovers the hidden history of her mother and company in India and tries to find the identity of the bones she found buried in her mothers psychic garden. Then at the end of each chapter is an excerpt from Jem’s mother’s diary of her time in India and what occurred there. It takes a while for the plot to build but I guess much like most thrillers the final chapters are where everything is brought to clarity.
This novel takes us from a cosy apothecary to dockside workers' pubs, backstreet brothels, an asylum for the insane and a large countryside mansion filled with exotic wares.
Around the halfway mark I was struggling to put this down and ended up reading into the early hours of the night when I knew I shouldn’t. A note on that, a particular chapter of this book was read right before bed and I had nightmares from it of cloaked figures haunting me in the dark and old creepy victorian abandoned houses so maybe read on if you get to that point or watch videos of puppies, don’t directly go to sleep.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it, Jem Flockhart gives me a gentleman Jack vibe which helped me to feel closer to the character and I love seeing women in a period of oppression rise above their station and strive to be equals to men even though they are denying their own identity for this. I will most definitely be looking out for more books from this series.
I had never heard of this series until my first trip to the library in the local area I had moved into. I was browsing the shelves and this book caught my eye which is strange as I never normally stray from the fantasy section. I know they have Surgeons’ Hall there too so I’ll no doubt be borrowing that at some point.
I’m glad that although there is an order to this series, I can read this as a standalone as I picked the wrong book entirely from the series order yet I was able to follow and enjoy the story all the same. I found this to be a good choice for the changing of seasons as the weather grew colder so did the atmosphere within this novel.
It did take me a while to get into as I don’t often read thriller books but I thoroughly enjoyed the botanical and historical aspects and kept my interest until the pace picked up.
I have always had a passion for plants and gardening myself and have once or twice tried to get an apprenticeship in horticulture albeit with little success but I’ll keep trying. With this knowledge I found the poisonous plant focus to be truly captivating, especially the definitions, administrations and effects of each type of nightshade scattered throughout the pages.
The format for this book is a chapter following Jem Flockhart, an experienced apothecary who solved mysteries throughout victorian London in disguise as a man, as she discovers the hidden history of her mother and company in India and tries to find the identity of the bones she found buried in her mothers psychic garden. Then at the end of each chapter is an excerpt from Jem’s mother’s diary of her time in India and what occurred there. It takes a while for the plot to build but I guess much like most thrillers the final chapters are where everything is brought to clarity.
This novel takes us from a cosy apothecary to dockside workers' pubs, backstreet brothels, an asylum for the insane and a large countryside mansion filled with exotic wares.
Around the halfway mark I was struggling to put this down and ended up reading into the early hours of the night when I knew I shouldn’t. A note on that, a particular chapter of this book was read right before bed and I had nightmares from it of cloaked figures haunting me in the dark and old creepy victorian abandoned houses so maybe read on if you get to that point or watch videos of puppies, don’t directly go to sleep.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it, Jem Flockhart gives me a gentleman Jack vibe which helped me to feel closer to the character and I love seeing women in a period of oppression rise above their station and strive to be equals to men even though they are denying their own identity for this. I will most definitely be looking out for more books from this series.
December 26, 2021
I love this series and this book didn’t disappoint. This time we find Jem with a body in her own garden and a another mystery to be solved. Who does the body belong to, why is it buried there and why is nightshade a key to unlocking the mystery. We also discover some other facts about Jem’s mother and who she was before Jem. Jem has to wrestle how she feels about what she discovers and what that could mean about the past. I can’t wait to see what Jem will get mixed up in next time with Will and what secrets will be unlocked. The level of detail in this book about botany and plants is fascinating and it puts you right amongst the times and what they were discovering at the time and how thoughts have changed between now and then. Although nature has a lot to show us and this book certainly highlights this in all its forms.
April 29, 2022
I have not read any of Jem Flockhart's stories before but it was easy to slip into the story. I will be reading them all someday. I love Jem's strong and steady personality and her unassuming and observant eye. This is a slow-building mystery, laced with botanical poison, buried bones, secret journals and London's gloomy weather in the 1850s. The revelation of what Bathsheba Wilde was up to came pretty late, but the style that Jem solved the case was cool, calm, collected and very satisfying. I also like Will Quartermain. He is always there for Jem, which strongly reminds me of the kinship shared by another duo by the same names in the Shadowhunter series.
The 52 Book Club: Self-prompt - Has plants on the cover
Orillium Spring Equinox Readathon: Restoration - Featuring healers
The 52 Book Club: Self-prompt - Has plants on the cover
Orillium Spring Equinox Readathon: Restoration - Featuring healers
December 13, 2021
I came across nightshade and I didn’t realise it was a series of 5 books,I just thought it sounded good. An apothecary who solves murders, what’s not to like?
Just as I was about to start reading I found out there were four others, which I then ended up reading before getting to nightshade. I have to say if you don’t want to read the whole series then just read this one.
Each books has a slight recap on the main details of the previous books that need to be known, the main one of which though confused me as I started reading the 5th so decided to just read them all. But like I say all recapped and explained in the books so if you just carry on it is explained.
Just as I was about to start reading I found out there were four others, which I then ended up reading before getting to nightshade. I have to say if you don’t want to read the whole series then just read this one.
Each books has a slight recap on the main details of the previous books that need to be known, the main one of which though confused me as I started reading the 5th so decided to just read them all. But like I say all recapped and explained in the books so if you just carry on it is explained.
June 4, 2023
Overall this is a good read with a good thought out mystery. I will say I Had hoped with the main character owning an apothecary there would be more references to the plants (similar to how 'This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron did with her apothecary book) but this book just mainly had a hard focus on the belladonna family poisonous plants. Which makes sense since it's a main theme of the book. I just found the repeat of it a little much. Other then that this book is a great YA victorian style mystery. The story telling made visualization of the story easy and they story never got boring or off base.
Read
March 29, 2025I always love returning to the vividly painted gothic world full of gruesome corpes that Jem lives in.
(I wonder what that says about me...)
The writing was captivating as always and I loved how Jem's personal history was involved again in the mystery. Tnis time around we learned more about his/her mother through journal entries. The mystery itself was intriguing and solid although it has not become a favourite in the series for me. Small gripes: Will and Jem had less personal interaction with each other, which I missed, and I also would've liked more Gabriel, Jenny and Mrs Speedicut in this installment.
(I wonder what that says about me...)
The writing was captivating as always and I loved how Jem's personal history was involved again in the mystery. Tnis time around we learned more about his/her mother through journal entries. The mystery itself was intriguing and solid although it has not become a favourite in the series for me. Small gripes: Will and Jem had less personal interaction with each other, which I missed, and I also would've liked more Gabriel, Jenny and Mrs Speedicut in this installment.
January 4, 2022
4.5 I have read all the series about Jen Flockheart and not one of them has disappointed me.
I particularly enjoyed this one as it not only gives the reader macabre murders but also a botany lesson about the Nightshade species of fauna as well as information on how poisonous every days flowers in our own gardens are.
The medicinal properties of these flowers also make for interesting reading.
But let’s not forget the list of interesting characters that all seem completely at odds with what is acceptable within Victorian society.
Love this series.
I particularly enjoyed this one as it not only gives the reader macabre murders but also a botany lesson about the Nightshade species of fauna as well as information on how poisonous every days flowers in our own gardens are.
The medicinal properties of these flowers also make for interesting reading.
But let’s not forget the list of interesting characters that all seem completely at odds with what is acceptable within Victorian society.
Love this series.
December 3, 2021
The fifth book of the Jem Flockhart , sees Jem attempting to find out the identity of a skeleton buried in the garden, years previously. Jem is an apothecary in Victorian London and this plot follows Jem and friends through twists and turns, involving a diary written years before by Jem’s deceased mother, before they are able to accuse the perpetrator. As normal with this series this story is harrowing, frightening and very Gothic.
March 12, 2022
I had great expectations for this book. I really love books that take place in the 1800 in England, and books talking about apothecarys.
But I personally struggled with this book and found it hard to get through it.
The setting was really good. The characters seemed nice and friendly.
But I found the book to be a bit dense with a lot going on but at the same time not much going on ?
At the end I ended skipping a few pages just to see what had happened and get the book over with.
But I personally struggled with this book and found it hard to get through it.
The setting was really good. The characters seemed nice and friendly.
But I found the book to be a bit dense with a lot going on but at the same time not much going on ?
At the end I ended skipping a few pages just to see what had happened and get the book over with.
May 3, 2021
I have read all of E.S. Thomson’s books and have enjoyed immensely each one, but by far this was the best. Thomson has the ability to use exactly the right words to evoke the mood of a scene or motives of a character. The filth and suffering and depravity of Victorian London, the sensual colors and scents of exotic plants and flowers, as well as the grotesque appearance of poisonous plants are all vividly described. Have I only just noticed this about her writing, or was this just the very best of her books
July 23, 2023
I did enjoy this one, but for some reason I couldn’t bring myself to finish it. There was a point when I was like 3/4 into the book that I just didn’t care about what happened. The plot was interesting but I thought it was so slow, and the diary chapters seemed to be pretty meh, specially at the beginning, so I just couldn’t be bothered.
October 26, 2023
Superb as ever. Full of incredible historical detail with fantastic vivid descriptions. I was once again totally lost in the 1800's with Jem and Will.
I also score that our protagonist is a female playing a male whilst being fully aware both of her sex and the fact that she is all woman. So heartening to read in these weird times we currently live in.
I also score that our protagonist is a female playing a male whilst being fully aware both of her sex and the fact that she is all woman. So heartening to read in these weird times we currently live in.
January 20, 2025
Another great edition to the Jen Flockhart series.
This one is a massive step up from its predecessor. This was really interesting as it explore something we really haven’t had in the series before and that is the life and history of Jem’s mother. What transpire are some really interesting characters coming into Jens life hiding a long dead secret.
This one is a massive step up from its predecessor. This was really interesting as it explore something we really haven’t had in the series before and that is the life and history of Jem’s mother. What transpire are some really interesting characters coming into Jens life hiding a long dead secret.
May 2, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Witchy plants, creeping death, and a protagonist you’ll want to follow straight into the fog… 🪴
I absolutely LOVED this gloriously gothic and deliciously dark tale!
Nightshade is my first fall into the rabbit hole of Jem Flockhart, how I wish I had known to start at the beginning of this series. I’m officially addicted!! 🍄
In the shadowy streets of Victorian London, Jem navigates a world thick with poisonous plants, mysterious corpses, and secrets that seep through the very walls. 🌱
Every page was steeped in night-blooming flowers, noxious roots, and whispering vines that seemed almost sentient. 🌿
I now know far more about botanical murder than is probably healthy… but I’m not mad about it. ☠️
“Mother Nature has divined many ways to kill the uninitiated.”
Thomson’s writing completely bewitched me, a gloriously gothic story filled with poisonous blooms, sinister bodies, and deliciously dark humour. 🧪
Victorian London has never smelled so… deadly. ☠️
If you love your mysteries wrapped in fog, death, and a whisper of witchcraft, you’re going to fall hard for this one❤️🔥
Witchy plants, creeping death, and a protagonist you’ll want to follow straight into the fog… 🪴
I absolutely LOVED this gloriously gothic and deliciously dark tale!
Nightshade is my first fall into the rabbit hole of Jem Flockhart, how I wish I had known to start at the beginning of this series. I’m officially addicted!! 🍄
In the shadowy streets of Victorian London, Jem navigates a world thick with poisonous plants, mysterious corpses, and secrets that seep through the very walls. 🌱
Every page was steeped in night-blooming flowers, noxious roots, and whispering vines that seemed almost sentient. 🌿
I now know far more about botanical murder than is probably healthy… but I’m not mad about it. ☠️
“Mother Nature has divined many ways to kill the uninitiated.”
Thomson’s writing completely bewitched me, a gloriously gothic story filled with poisonous blooms, sinister bodies, and deliciously dark humour. 🧪
Victorian London has never smelled so… deadly. ☠️
If you love your mysteries wrapped in fog, death, and a whisper of witchcraft, you’re going to fall hard for this one❤️🔥
August 31, 2021
the most insane book i’ve ever read but i couldn’t stop coming back to it. the characters are brilliantly brought to life and the informational pages on the different poisonous flowers were fun to read too.
December 11, 2021
Very different book set in Victorian London. Characters are amazing with a hint of exoticism! Subject is poisonous plants, esp various types of Nightshade! Murder is also a subject and two eccentric detectives specializing in poisons are on the case! Love the sections of the book set in India!
August 24, 2023
Dull. It dragged after the first 150 pages but by that point I couldn’t leave it unfinished. I think it’s not the first in the series which might explain it, I probably need to know the characters better, but not much of the dialogue felt authentic to the era it is supposedly set
November 20, 2021
A great instalment in the series, giving us insight into Jem's sainted mother and her time in India coming back to haunt him...
May 15, 2022
Another excellent edition to the Jem Flockhart series. Mystery, murder, poisons, and my favourite little found apothecary family!
May 15, 2022
Truly a page turner
I've read the previous books written by the illustrious author and have not been disappointed in this tale. More of the same please
I've read the previous books written by the illustrious author and have not been disappointed in this tale. More of the same please
December 29, 2022
What an amazingly awesome book. Twists and turns throughout!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews